How Reactive Should We Be About Food Safety?

On the Popular Science website, there is an article concerning the taste of Coca-Cola, in various containers, and why it should be. The reasons why the soda tastes different over the range of materials it is stored in is something we are certainly all familiar with, but do we give it enough thought? For that matter, do we give enough thought to the food we eat and the liquids we drink?

Now, this is not going to be one of those articles, because I happen to like Coca-Cola, and I also like red meat and dairy products. I am certainly not going to be a vegan any time soon, as I believe that any extension of my life by extensive changes in my diet would not be worthwhile, as being miserable while alive, is hardly living.

On the other hand, there are certainly many small things a person can do, which have little impact on the enjoyment of life, yet will most certainly lengthen the time we are here on this earth, all else being equal.

To begin with, the Coca-Cola spoken of in the article is served in 3 ways, in glass, in plastic bottles, and in cans. Most people would agree that there are distinctive differences in the way these variations of container are perceived by the consumer (That is, those whose taste buds have not been utterly ruined along the way - I know someone who assures me that he can no longer tell the difference between Coke and Diet Coke. I feel sorry for him, because I know he is not kidding, and I wonder how he could have let this happen. Though I am certain that all people perceive tastes differently, due to our different internal chemistries, I know of no other person who thinks these two drinks could ever be perceived as equals. Most everyone I know, that drinks Diet Coke, or Coke Zero, does so because of the caloric difference, much as people take medication because they know it is good for them.)

The article states that Coke in glass should theoretically be the closest to ‘The Real Thing’ as it is the most inert substance in relation to the chemistry of Coke. I believe that is true, and most people would probably agree, even though they might not know, or care, why. Next best would be the plastic bottle, though the plasticizers in the container can be leached into the Coke, changing its flavor in subtle ways, as the phosphoric acid in the Coke reacts. The largest, and possibly most problematic, differences are had when the consumer is getting his Coke from an aluminum can. As anyone knows from high school chemistry, phosphoric acid reacts with aluminum, though not in the same way it would with lithium! (small chemistry joke).

Because the substance in the plastic bottles (acetaldehyde) is reactive, it should be avoided. Now the FDA does regulate these things, and states that all is well - we are not getting enough to be a problem. But is that really true? Is any amount acceptable?  The answer is probably that we are fine, and this should not cause anyone undue grief, but as with the aluminum cans, where aluminum has been linked in studies to Alzheimer’s, but not conclusively, should we not use best choices when buying?

If aluminum can is the only way to get the Coke, I will certainly drink it, but if there is a can, and 18 inches away in the store’s cooler, there is a glass bottle, I’m going to go for the bottle. These are the type of choices I think everyone should make.

This type of intelligent choosing, without sacrificing, is the kind of thing I would advocate, and think that those with our health in mind, and also wanting to be taken seriously, should also do.

While on the subject of Coke, the chances of getting sucrose, instead of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS, otherwise known to many as Karo syrup), are much better when getting a Coke in a bottle made of glass. HFCS has been conclusively proven to be considerably less beneficial than sugar for people’s health, so again, choosing glass would be a double benefit.

As with everything, it is a matter of degrees. Of course, it would no doubt be best to avoid carbonated beverages almost completely…but can we do that? I know I’m not willing to make that choice. I do know however, that one choice is easy for me; I don’t drink ‘diet drinks’ whatsoever. There, the data is completely in, and the chances of having bad outcomes with major usage of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharine, and the like, is almost assured.

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Tags: Coca-Cola, container reactions, taste changes, problems with storage, HFCS, sucrose, aspartame, intelligent choices, quality of life, life extension

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The only completely consistent people are the dead. Aldous Huxley

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